I found this forum today, and saw this article(thread) about someone's layout , using some alternative techniques to build scenery. This thread is already 47 pages long. I'd suggest to have a good browse through it and be amazed by some of the realism he's creating (see page 45 for just one such scene of a road overpass etc) He's also showing very good techniques for winter type scenes, and not your usual all white powder dust, but looking at the pictures it just seems very cold.

Hello Boys,
Interesting topic ..... well yes. Decent, workmanlike modelling at best. But what about the grotty ballasting and rtr track? I hope he isn't going to leave all those glued edges on show. So .... realistic? Hardly.
If you think that overpass is 'realistic' ..... then what do you make of this: http://www.pendonmuseum.com/

you are correct, the track used is the only 'let down' on the otherwise great looking and 'original' scenery, mud pit and all. I'm also impressed with the backdrops and how they blend into the scene.

Yes, I've seen that website, and fantastic modeling there too, although the 'british' outline is not my thing, simply not attracted to it, but then again, I didn't grow up here so perhaps that's what the reason behind that is